Vyapin Blogs

We have released a new and improved version of DocKIT for SharePoint 2007 about a week back. We included some nice features based on the customer feedback we received over the last few months. (BTW, we are very attentive when it comes to customer feedback and feature suggestions, which has truly brought us to where we are today).

If you are a customer waiting for just these features, then DocKIT for SharePoint 2007 v3.8 version is right for you.

1)    Support for Business Data Catalog (BDC) column data type in SharePoint libraries. Business Data Catalog (BDC) column values must be provided with the appropriate filter name to use in order to query the LOB records. You must provide the BDC column value in the format: <filter name>:<value>. For example: “Company Name:NorthWind”, where Company Name is the filter name and NorthWind is the value you are searching for and would like to assign to the column.

2)    You can upload documents to Link to Document SharePoint default content type. This content type allows you to store a link to a document in a document library instead of the document itself. This content type is useful when referencing documents that are stored in http(s) locations.

3)    With the new version you can update the same metadata to all the existing files and folders based on wildcard characters.For example:http://sharepoint/library1/folder1/*      -   Update all folders and sub-folders only, but skip fileshttp://sharepoint/library1/folder1/*.*  -  Update all files and sub-folders

4)    When migrating folders and files from the file system to a SharePoint library, you can update the folder metadata to the file, in case there is no specific metadata given for the file that is imported to SharePoint. In other words, you can apply the same folder metadata to all files / documents within a folder, without the need to specify unique metadata entry for each file.

5)    You can now use complex HTML syntax to update SharePoint columns in HTML format. This feature is especially useful for Wiki pages.

6)    One of the common practices while using DocKIT is to interchangeably use UNC Path and Mapped Drive Letters when adding files to import and providing metadata entries. The earlier versions required that the user must be consistent in UNC Path or Mapped Drive letter usage when creating the import task (cannot specify both interchangeably). This new version automatically resolves UNC Path and Mapped Drives so that users can use them interchangeably without the need to fix this error and re-import documents.For any new feature suggestions or feedback, send us an e-mail to support at vyapin dot com.

This is a significant release of SPListX, not only for us but also for our customers who have been waiting for some time to get these new features. I am sure it was worth the wait for them, because we made sure we addressed all of the important features that will make this an important component in our solution suite for SharePoint List management, List Migration, List Backup & Restore and List Synchronization requirements. 

You can now backup / export all the list items along with their metadata to a file server or local computer using SPListX and reimport them using DocKIT or SPListM depending on the SharePoint list type. You can also synchronize your SharePoint list contents with your file system using SPListX. 

In fact, the entire combo of DocKIT, SPListM and SPListX is a powerful tool chest that all SharePoint managers and administrators would love to have. All the 3 tools are a must for any organization that has a serialized process for moving documents and other list items in and out of SharePoint using networked file shares. 

And ofcourse, the best part about all the 3 products is their ability to retain the salient list item / document properties - Created Date/Time, Modified Date/Time, Created By and Modified By when working in and out of SharePoint (both MOSS and WSS). 

What’s new in SPListX 3.0? 

» SPListX latest version supports all SharePoint list types such as Tasks, Calendar, Contacts, Survey, Discussion Boards, Announcements, Links, Issue Tracking and Custom Lists in Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 (MOSS 2007) and Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (WSS 3.0).

» Export SharePoint lists based on user-defined export conditions  

» Enhancements to the GUI 

Features

» Export folders & documents and metadata to the file system

» Export SharePoint lists to the file system using a batch descriptor file

» Automate Tasks using the Tasks Manager

» Export SharePoint Columns, including system columns such as Created, Modified, Approval Status, etc. SPListX exports metadata into CSV, XLS, MDB and XML file formats.

» Export document / list item versions

» Export folder / document system dates to metadata file

» Propagate folder / document system date fields - Created Date/Time and Modified Date/Time to NTFS 

Due to major technology differences between IIS6 and IIS7 we have two separate reporting tools for IIS:

1. Admin Report Kit for IIS v4.x / 5.x / 6.x

2. Admin Report Kit for IIS 7.0

Both the tools have similar features, except that ARK for IIS 7 is a completely new application developed from scratch using .NET. We are just about to release the latest version of ARKIIS for IIS7 which will include a major feature to compare IIS configurations across sites, virtual directories and servers. This feature is already available in ARKIIS for IIS 5.x/6.x.

The compare feature for IIS is a great feature loved by all our customers. IIS is a real monster when it comes to the number of different configuration parameters. So, when it comes to migrating to new servers, revamping existing ones or setting up new sites and directories, it is important that you compare the new IIS settings with a baseline reference and ensure that they have all been configured right as per your internal policies.

We have improved the Compare feature further and will be made available in the upcoming release (in the next couple of weeks). We have also added a new Report navigation pane to better locate the desired reports.